THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL
The Future of TraveL
5 Insights From the New Travel Conference
So this week I did something I’ve never done before - I took part in a week-long virtual conference. The New Travel Conference was held entirely online over the past several days and I was able to attend a number of its webinars - hosted by travel industry writers, agents and executives - on topics ranging from sustainability in travel to how to communicate during a crisis to making hospitality feel safe and inclusive to black travelers. Over the course of this week, I’ve started to piece together a new understanding of the future of travel, and not just in a “lasting effects of COVID-19” sense. The future of travel and tourism, like any other industry, is experiencing a broad shift in perspective, and finally waking up to the limitations of our current system and an urgency to return to balance. Here were some of my big takeaways:
You might want to start planning your 2021 travels now - I’ve been under the impression that travel bookings are still at a relative stand-still when compared to this time last year. This may be true for 2020 travel, but things are booking up fast for 2021. Not only have trips from 2020 been re-booked for 2021, but due to new social distancing protocols many planes, trains, hotels and tours are reducing their typical guest capacity. Combine that with the fact that being under quarantine for several months has us all itching to book our next trip and you can see why competition for 2021 travel bookings is already starting to get pretty steep. The good news is, most travel and hospitality based businesses are extending flexible cancellation policies for the next year or so, given the unpredictable nature of the virus and its lasting effects.
Expect a more holistic approach to sustainability - We’ve talked about how a simple towel re-wash program no longer designates a hotel as sustainable. What is becoming more apparent now is that sustainability initiatives really need to be built into the DNA of a company. Because the issue of climate change and pollution is so multi-faceted and nuanced, hotels and restaurants need to have a holistic approach to mitigating these issues in place. Otherwise, doing something positive for the planet in one area - i.e. recycling or water conservation practices - only become an excuse to do more harm in another area. A holistic approach looks at how the entire system can be improved, and aims to improve it on a continual basis. A few brands doing a great job at this include andBeyond and Six Senses.
As industries improves, accountability is key - Right now, we’re witnessing businesses across multiple industries issue statements of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, pledges to become cleaner and safer in a post-COVID era, and commitments to a renewed focus on sustainability. All of it first begs the question, why didn’t this matter to you before now? Followed by…what’s next? In these instances, it’s important for us, the consumer, to stay focused on accountability. We can’t just take the corporate word for it. We must demand proof of actions being taken and measurements to prove their effectiveness. In 6 months and one year from now, pay attention to who has something real to say as it relates to the effectiveness and impacts of these commitments to change.
We need to improve the status quo for our indoor air quality - During one webinar, a panelist talked about how building managers are almost more important than doctors when it comes to our health. Humans spend 90% of our time indoors. In a typical year, you will take 2 million breaths in an office. During a pandemic-induced quarantine, that number likely goes up. Recently, the Harvard Business Review discussed this new urgency to make buildings healthier. It’s yet another reason to select eco-conscious accommodations when traveling, because hotels and restaurants that adhere to LEED certification standards or, even better, WELL certification, are certain to use safer, non-toxic materials for building, cleaning and maintenance, which translates to improved health for their occupants.
Synthetic materials might be sabotaging your sleep quality - This one is sort of random, but it stuck out to me as I’ve been on a quest recently to achieve optimal sleep quality (pro-tip: CBD drops). Sustainable hospitality pioneer, Six Senses, has a sleep program in place to help their guests achieve the best sleep of their lives while on vacation. During one panel, they talked about how their sleep expert advises against any synthetic materials in bedding. Why you might ask? Because it reduces natural air flow and causes us to over-heat while sleeping. This rise in temperature is one of the most common reasons for disrupted sleep. Shifting to organic, non-toxic and natural fibers in your pillows, bedding and mattress could be the key to the soundest sleep of your life.!